US1631767A - Parachute pack - Google Patents

Description

June 7 1927.

J. M. RUSSELL PARACHUTE PACK Filed April 12. 1926 JAMES m. RUSSELL, or

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,631,767 PATENT OFFICE.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO HERBERT B. HOCLIN- TOOK, 01 SAN DIEGO, CALIIOBNIA.

' rmcno'rn racx.

Application fled April 12, 1926. Serial. No. 101,420.

This invention relates to parachutes of the type adapted to be worn on the back of an aviator, and the primary object is' the provision of a parachute which is reta ned 1n a container of novel form and consisting essentially of a face piece of flexible material, having side flaps; and a separate piece, wh ch together with the side flaps, forms one side of the container. A further object is the provision of a parachute container of this type having means extending through the parachute to interconnect the slde edges of the separate piece with the edges of the side flaps and with the opposite face of the container on its opposite side.

A further object is the provision of a nonrigid pack which will more or less conform to the body of the wearer, and having the parachute retained in position by means of fastening cones attached to the separate piece, these cones passing through the pack and being fa tened to a pull cord adapted to be manually operated by the wearer after he is clear of the aircraft. The separate piece of the container is fixed to the pull cord so that it will be positively removed from its position and freed of the rest of the pack after the pull cord is operated to release the locking cones.

A further object is the provision of a parachute pack of trapezium form, having a smaller top edge than the lower edge and having upwardly converging sides which are substantially parallel to the two adjacent sides of the triangular flap which is separable from the rest of the pack.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be more fully set forth, reference being had to the following description of the preferred form of my invention, and to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the side of the pack which is exposed to the slipstream.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pack showing the side which is placed against the wearers back.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the rear of the pack after it has been opened and the separate triangular piece removed. and Fig. 5 is a \'lt\\' of the ejec pull cord attachment.

Referring more particularly by reference numerals to the drawings, the parachute tion strap and verging upwardly. Attached to the edge of the face piece 1 are the top flap 6 of substantially triangular form, bottom fla 7 and two side flaps 8 and 9; all of the si e flaps extending a short distance towards the center of the pack where they are overlapped by a separate trian ular piece 10, the plece 10 overlappin the inner edges 11, 12 and 13 of the three fia-ps S, 9 and 7, as shown. The var ous flaps, face piece 1 and triangular section 10 are all constructed of flexible fabric material which is devoid of rigidifymg elements with the exception of the two thm sprmg pieces 14 which extend vertically along the face 1 and which may take the form of corset steels fastened to the fabric section 1, so that the entire pack will be of a non-rigid and yielding construction. With such a construction the ack may yield and glve 1n the movements 0 the wearer and will more closely conform to the shape of the body. The pack is adapted to be worn on the back of the aviator with the section 1 against his back, and with the flap 10 exposed to the air-rush. The various flaps fold around and enclose the sustaining par-achute 15 which is stufl'ed into the container 1n a comparatively loose manner so that the pack will be pliable. It is to be understood that the parachute completely fills the coin tainer, although it is preferred that the parachute should not be so tight] y pressed into the container as to form a compact mass. The suspension straps 16 of the cu tomary form extend into the pack and are connected to the ropes of the parachute. An suitable harness may be used for at tac ing the pack to the back of the aviator.

Attached to each corner or apex of the triangular flap 10 is an attaching cone. the cones being indicated at 17, 18 and 19. These cones project downwardly into the pack and extend through grommet-s in the edges of the side flaps, and also through branches of the pull wire are located on the forward side of the pack and between the front section 1 and the back of the aviator, and are attached rigidly to the pull ring 24= which may be placed in a suitable location on the pack where it may be easily grasped and pulled.

The pull ring 24 is attached to a strap 25 which extends around to the back of the pack on the outside thereof and enters the pack under the edges of the bottom flap 7 and under the lower edge of the tr angular flap 10. At this point the strap is provided with a grommet 26 which co-operates with the cone 18. The strap then extends along the front of the pack, close to the front section 1, and is then folded back so as to extend around the portion of the parachute embraced thereby and is attached to the flap 10 in a.v permanent manner at the point 27. The strap 25 thenextends along the triangular flap 10 to a point 28, the end 29 of the strap then extending towards the center of the ack again to completely embrace the portion of the parachute therein.

It will now be understood that the parachute 15 is placed on the front section 1 around and on all sides of the grommets 30, and 38, and the two side flaps 8 and 9 are then folded over in place; the top and bottom flaps 6 and 7 being then positioned and the triangular flap 10 and the ejectlon strap 25 then applied in position so that the locking cones 1-7 will extend through the grommet 31 in flap 6, grommets 32 in flaps 8 and 9, and grommet 3O inthe front section 1. The cone 18 in a similar manner engages the grommet 33, then grommet 26 and 1n turn grommets 34 and 35. Looking cone 19 extends through grommets 36, 37 and 38 in turn. With the ejection strap positioned 7 around and embracing a part of the parachute and interconnecting the pull ring with the triangular fla 10, it will be apparent that when the pn ring is manuall 3erked by the aviator the pull cord wil be released from the end of the locking cones through which they extend and immediately thereafter as the aviator extends his arm, the flap 10 will be jerked out of lace and the part of the parachute embraced by the ejection strap will be forcibly pulled out of the container, where it may catch the air and be completely removed as the air catches the parachute and drags upon it.

The location of the locking cones upon the removable flap 10 reduces the chances of interference between the parachute and cones and removes any possibility of the cones causing interference with the re-' moval of the arachute, since the flap 10 which holds tiiem is jerked clear of the rest of the parachute container as soon as the cones are released. The complete removal of the flap 10 fromtherest of permits the minimum number of fastening cones to be used. Furthermore the position of these fastening cones at points substantially removed from the edges of the pack and passing entirely through the pack, provides a means to retain the parachute in its position within the pack and prevents the parachute from shifting. around therein. I I am aware that variouschanges and modifications may be made within the sco c of my invention, and do not intend to e limited to the precise construction which has been chosen herein for the purpose of illustration of the preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a parachute pack adapted to be worn by an aviator, a container for the parachute made of flexible material and having a face piece and a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face plece, a parachute within the container, a separate piece of material on the opposite side of the parachute from theface piece, said side flaps overlapping the edges of said separate piece, and locking cones re- .leasably holding said separate piece to the overlapping side flaps to retain the parachute enclosed between the face piece, side flap and theseparate piece. 3

2. In a parachute pack adapted to be worn by an aviator, a container for' the parachute made of flexible material and having a face piece and a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face piece, a parachute within the container, a separate piece of material on the opposite s1 e of the parachute from the face, piece, and means releasably holding said separate piece to the side flaps and to the face piece and extending through the pack to retain .the'parachute enclosed in position between the face piece, side flaps and the separate plece.

3. In a parachute pack adapted to be worn by an aviator, a container for the parachute made of flexible material and having a face piece and a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face piece, a parachute within the container, a separate piece of material on the center of the opposite side of the parachute from the face piece having edges overlapped by said side flaps, and meanso'n said separate piece releasably holding said separate'piece to the side flaps to retain the parachute enclosed between the face piece, side flap and the separate piece.

4. In a parachute pack adapted to be worn by an aviator, a container for the parachute made of flexible material and having a face piece and a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face piece, a parachute within the container, a separate triangular piece of material on the opposite side of the pack from the face iece, and locking cones releasably holding t e corners of said separate piece to the side flaps and to the face piece and extending through the pack to retain the parachute enclosed in position between the face piece, side flaps and the separate piece.

5. A yielding parachute container for packed parachutes adapted to be wern by an aviator, comprising a flexibleface' piece having a plurality of side flaps connected to its edges and extending short distances toward the center of the container and adapted to extend around a parachute, a separate piece of flexible material on the same side of the container as said side flaps and overlapping said side flaps at its edges, locking cones fastened to the corners of said separate piece, grommets in the edges of the side flaps and in the said face piece for engagement with said cones and a pull cord for releasably retaining said grommets in engagement with the cones to maintain the parachute in position within the container.

6. A parachute container for packed para-- chutes adapted to be Worn by an avlator, comprising a flexible face piece adapted to be worn against the aviators back and having a plurality ofside flaps connected to its edges and extending short distances toward the center of the container and adapted to extend around a parachute, a separate piece of flexible material on the same side of the container as said side flaps and overlapping said side flaps at its edges, locking cones fastened to the corners of said separate piece, grommets in the edges of the side flaps and in the said face piece for engagement with said cones and a pull cord between the container and the aviators back for releasably retainingsaid grommets in engagement with the cones to maintain the parachute in position within the container.

7. A parachute container for packed parachutes adapted to be Worn on an aviators back, comprising a flexible face piece of trapezium shape with the upper edge considerably smaller than its lower edge and having substantially straight side edges, converging towards the top. a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face strip and extending short distances toward the center of the container and adapted to be placed around a parachute, a separate triangular piece of material on the same side of the container as said side flaps and overlapping said side fla s at its edges and means to releasably holc the said separate piece to the edges of the side flaps.

8. A para-chute container for packed parachutes'adapted to be Worn on an aviators back, comprising a flexible face piece of trapezium shape with the upper edge considerably smaller than its lower edge and having substantially straight side edges, converging towards the top, a pluralit of side flaps connected to the edges of the flice strip and extending short distances toward the center of the container and adapted to be so placed around a parachute, aseparate triangular piece of material on the same side of the container as said side flaps and overlapping said side flaps at its edges, and

means on the corners of the said separatei'ea piece to releasably hold the said separate piece to the edges of the said flaps.

9. A parachute container for packed parachutes adapted to be worn on an aviators back, comprising a flexible face piece of trapezium shape with the upper edge considerably smaller than its lower edge and having substantially straight side edges, converging towards the top, a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face in strip and extending short distances toward the center of the container and adapted to be placed around a parachute, a separate triangular piece of material on the same side of the container as said side flaps and low overlapping said side flaps at its edges and 7 locking cones interconnecting the corners of the separate piece, the edges of said side flap and the opposing parts of the said face piece together to retain the parachute in position within the container.

10. A parachute pack adapted to be worn on an aviators back, comprising a container of non-rigid form, formed of a flexible face piece of trapezium shape with the upper edge considerably smaller than its lower edge and having substantially straight side edges, converging towards the top, a plurality of side flaps connected to the edges of the face strip and extending short distances-toward the center of ,the container, a separate triangular piece of material havin r edges overlapping the edges of the side aps, a parachute enclosed by said face piece, side flap and triangular piece collectively, and means extending through the pack to retain the parachute in position therein and to inter connect the edges of the side flaps. the corners of the triangular flap and the face piece together, and a rip cord adapted to be manually pulled to release the last named means and forcibly remove the said triangular piece from the pack.

11. In a parachute worn on an aviators ack adapted to be ack, a flexible container of flexible material comprising a face piece of trapezium form having a short up-- pull ring, and a ripcord extending through the cones on the side of the pack which is against the wearers back.

12. In a parachute pack, a container for the parachute made of flexible materlal and having a face piece, and a plurality of side flaps extending a short distance towards the center of the pack, a separate pleceof material overlappmg the edges of the side flaps, means releasably attaching the edges of the side flaps and the separate pieces together, a pull device for releasing said means, and a strap connecting the pull device to one of said pieces to forcibly remove the separate piece from the rest of the pack when the pull device is operated.

13. In a parachute pack, a parachute, a

. container for the parachute made of flexible material and having a face piece, and a plurality of side flaps extending a short distance towards the center of the pack, a separate piece of material overlapping the edges attaching of the side flaps, means releasably;

e separate the edges of the side flaps and t piece together, a pull device for releasing said means, and a strap connecting the ull device to the separate piece and exten in'g around a portion of the parachute to forcibly remove the separate piecefrom the rest of the pack and forcibly eject a portion of the parachute when the pull device is operated.

14. In a parachute ack, a parachute, a container for the parac ute made of flexible material and having a face piece, and a plurality of side flaps extending a short distance towards the center of the pack,'a separate piece of material overlapping the edges of the side flaps, means releasably attaching the said face piece and the edges of the side flaps and the separate piece together, a pull parachute to forcibly remove the separate piece from the rest of the pack and forcibly eject a portion of the parachute when the pull device is operated, said separate piece having a triangular shape and said pack having two opposite sides converging to gether towards the top of the pack.

15. In a parachute pack as set forth in claim 11, an ejection strap connected to said ring and extending into the pack around a part of the parachute and attached to the triangular topflap to cause the forcible ejection of the parachute and the forceful removal of the said triangular top flap when the pull ring is operated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of April, 1926.

JAMES M. RUSSELL.

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